My 9 yr old scottie developed a swollen toe. Brought him to the vet and was told it was a tumour. Brought in again to have it removed and was told he had lung cancer. Brought him home and outside of a little limp when he gets tired, he wants to play and is very alert. Is there something I can give him to reverse the cancer?

Prin

October 5th, 2006, 05:55 PM

I'm sorry for the diagnosis. :grouphug: I don't think anything can reverse it... What has your vet suggested?

viejogringo

October 5th, 2006, 07:48 PM

The vet did not suggest to do anything but he may live for 2 wks , 2 mths
but this type of cancer is very aggressive. I still find it hard to believe because he has no breathing problems and still wants to play.

Frenchy

October 5th, 2006, 08:52 PM

I'm very sorry for you and Scottie :sad: There is not much you can do except to enjoy every moment you still have with him :grouphug:

rainbow

October 6th, 2006, 12:43 PM

Sorry to hear about your dog. :grouphug: Unfortuneately, there is nothing that will reverse cancer. Did your vet do blood tests when you took your dog in to have the tumour removed from his toe?

viejogringo

October 6th, 2006, 04:53 PM

The blood tests didnt show any cancer cells.That is why I am really puzzled
at this conclusion. P.S. When my wife was told that the xray showed cancer in the lungs, she didnt proceed with the removal of the toe.

OntarioGreys

October 6th, 2006, 10:40 PM

I know this is a terrible diagnosis :grouphug: I lost one girl to osteosarcoma almost 3 years ago

Typically if a vet suspects cancer they run these tests then send them a vet oncologist for confirmation along with a referral it is usually the vet oncologist who will look at the x-rays make sure it is indeed cancer and not as a result of a fungus which is treatable(some types can look very much like cancer in an xray espescially in bone tissue and can affect the lung - one example is valley fever, those there are other forms that an occur farther to the north) . If it is cancer that has mestasized to the lungs, then treatment is not really an option and the oncologist will start a pain management program, as the pain will as it progresses become very severe so heavy duty drugs are needed to manage the pain and some can cause severe side effects so close monitoring is needed to ensure the dog is tolerating them okay, and if necessary may need to change to other types of pain relief . If you are at all unsure about the diagnosis don't be afraid to ask for a referral to a vet oncologist.

THere is a site I found online that has a list questions you can ask in understand and to help deal with the cancer in your pet. Number 12 near the bottom of the page is a good question about being referred to a "competent" holistic veterinarian who will work with you to provide a program to enhance the dog's nutrition. As a low carb diet can slow the cancer as carbs convert to sugar which cancer needs to multiply, a diet can help boost the immune system also dogs with cancer may not alway want to eat, so a nutrition program is a benefit in giving the dog more quality time. It includes a few links you may find helpful. http://www.treshanley.com/cic/questions.html

This is a yahoo support group for those people who currently have a dog diagnosed with cancer http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/

viejogringo

January 5th, 2007, 01:14 PM

We went ahead with the toe removal as the vet said the xrays showed lung cancer. We decided to let him live his last days pain free. What we did do was change his food from the dry dogfood to Lean Cuts form Costco and 500mg of vit C,1 capsule of omega 3-6-9, 1 capsule of salmon oil and 4 drops of propylis. We dont know whats going on but he is friskier and more alert than he has been in a long time. We hope the vet was wrong in her diagnosis. Thanks to all for replies.

cpietra16

January 5th, 2007, 03:43 PM

We hope the vet was wrong in her diagnosis. .

Can you go for a second opinion. You really seem to believe that there may have been a mistake in their diagnosis. Good luck. I am sorry you and your puppy are going thru this. I hope you are right and it turns out to be something else.

rainbow

January 6th, 2007, 11:45 PM

I would also get a second opinion. You stated the blood tests didn't show any signs of cancer but the xray did. I think something should show up in a blood test.

Inisfad

January 7th, 2007, 07:49 AM

I definitely think you should go for a second opinion also, as a shadow in a lung can be many things. Your vet did not do any definitive test, and is also diagnosing just by virtue of an x-ray, even thought the bloodwork came back clear. If indeed it is cancer and it is just a small mass in the lung, it could be removed surgically, with a good prognosis. FYI, animals that are diagnosed with cancer have a better recovery rate than people, as they don't understand the word cancer and therefore don't have any of the psychological effects that can further weaken the immune system. Find another vet (perhaps a specialist?) and have the proper tests done. And good luck!

OntarioGreys

January 7th, 2007, 03:46 PM

I am glad things are going okay right now

I know a bloodtest does not alway show cancer it is just one type of diagnostic tool

Was a pathology done one the amputated toe to confirm it definitely was cancer? Sometimes fungal infections can present itself in bones and lungs, treatment is with antifungals and can prevent it from progressing to life threatening

Another question because of your user name, have you travelled with the dog before the symptoms appeared to areas of the southern US(say for example Texas, Arizona, New Mexico or mexico)? if so ask to have the dog tested for Valley Fever, This is the info on Valley Fever in dogs, it does not occur this far north so a vet would not likely even consider this possibility and is often mistaken for cancer
http://www.vfce.arizona.edu/VFID-home.htm

Daisy2943

January 7th, 2007, 11:16 PM

I know that ohio state university offers chemotherapy if thats help ful